Remembering Rocky Point Park | Turnstile Tuesday

by Charles · Published August 3, 2021 · Updated August 11, 2021

Entrance To Rocky Point Park — *Welcome to Rocky Point Park*

Turnstile Tuesday – Remembering Rocky Point Park

June 28th, 1887 President Rutherford B. Hayes tells Alexander Graham Bell, “please speak a little more slowly” for the not so memorable first words ever spoken by a President on a telephone. Destroyed during the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 and again during Hurricane Carol in 1954. For a political event in 1989 President George H. W. Bush visited and joked that he wanted to ride the Corkscrew Coaster but the Secret Service guys wouldn’t let him do it.

Besides being a beloved Amusement Park these are just a few tidbits from the long history that was Rocky Point Park in Warwick, Rhode Island. Currently a Rhode Island State Park, the 120 acres of Rocky Point have a lot to boast about over the 150+ years of its existence. With it being within 10 miles of downtown Providence it has been a consistent draw since 1850.

Rocky Point Park was a destination for those in Rhode Island, New England and even many from further traveled to experience this park. Over the years it featured an Observation Tower, Hotels, Swimming Pool, lot’s of Midway Games, Hugo the Human Projectile, World’s Largest Shore Dinner Hall including all you can eat Clam Cakes and Red Chowder. 4th of July Shore Fireworks, Live Concerts in the Palladium or even the Midway all summer long and of course lots of rides including The Flume, Freefall, House of Horrors and one of the first Arrow Corkscrew Coasters with an additional 360 degree Loop ever built!

However, due to the owners financial issues beyond the park itself and to the disappointment of many on November 7, 1994, Rocky Point Park closed and after a brief reopening in 1996 the park then auctioned off what could be sold, including the rides. For those looking for one more lap, Corkscrew lives on at Wild Waves Theme Park in the State of Washington and is now known as The Wild Thing! After closing the park had its share of vandalism and eventually what was left was leveled. It wasn’t until 2014 that the State of Rhode Island reopened the property as Rocky Point State Park.

For a lot of the details and history shared here and a whole lot more we highly recommend that you check out the David Bettencourt documentary, You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park.

This week’s Turnstile Tuesday is just the start to SFNE Online’s week long focus on Remembering Rocky Point Park. On Wednesday our Rocky Point Park 2021 TOUR: PART 1 was posted, on Thursday the latest Why Are They GONE? Episode #8 Rocky Point Park came out and then Friday Rocky Point Park 2021 TOUR: PART 2 rounded out our Remembering Rocky Point Park week. Hope you enjoy a little look back at what many Rhode Island, New England and overall Amusement Park fans still talk fondly about, Rocky Point Park.

Again, SFNE Online welcome’s everyone to our Remembering Rocky Point Park week. To kick things off here’s the lyrics so you can sing along to the Rocky Point Theme Song in the commercial below!

Come With Your Family
Come With Your Friend
That’s The Rocky Point Tradition Cause It’s Summer Time Again
Rocky Point
It’s So Exciting
Rocky Point
Where You Can Come Alive
Rocky Point
You’re All Invited To Share Our Summertime
Rocky Point